SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2356, 20 April 1899, Page 38

SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA.

By Ham Poene. MELBOURNE, April 12. THE TURF.

The four days' racing which constituted the Autumn meeting of the Australian Jockey Club at Randwick attracted a laiger number of Victorian visitors than usual; and although their southern champion— Bobadi!— was once more " under a cloud," the vast majority of them were fortunate enough to get on to th ■ winner of the Sydney Cup at an extremely remunerative price. Whilst hardly expecting to find tho "midget" daughter of Pilgrim's Progress and Etra Weenie (Diffidence is only 14hds lin in heiaht) emulalina the Patroness feat of four years since, 1 was perfectly convinced that Mr Herbert Power's filly was something out of the ordinary; albeit, I must confess, I favoured her prospect better in the mile dash of the Doncaster Handicap than over two miles of ground. Her trainer (Mr James Wilson, jun.), though, was very sanguine about her staying capabilities— and with every reason, seeing that she scampered home by half a dozen lengths in 3min 31sec— time that has never been beaten foi two miles at Randwick, and only thrice equalled by Carbine (1889), Wallace (1896), and Merloolas (1898), in the selfsame event. Those more intimately connected with Mr James Wilson jun.'s training establishment landed a nice stake over the victory, the eleventh-hour rush on the Hon. W. A. Long's filly Carronade (which was supported from 50 tc 1 down to 8 to 1), enabling them to secure a good ' poultice" without bringing Diffidence into much prominence. But Carronade, beautifully bred as she undoubtedly is (by Grand Flaneur fiorr Crossfirp, si.ster to Arsenal), failed tc emulate the feat of Patroness, when the sister to Patron euchred Quiver, and in fact -was never once dangerous throughout tho tryst. Certain would-be _" smarties " have heretofore inclined to the belief that because Mr James Wilson jun.'s horses invariably put up at the Hon. W. A Long's private training establishment (Chipping Norton) when visiting 'New Soutli Wales, therefore the two " stables " not only thoroughly understood one another, but actually " raw m.

together," so to speak. The Sydney Cup finishin 1895 gave that idea an exceedingly rude shock, however; whilst the latest development in re Carronade and Diffidence may possibly have dispelled -it altogethei. Personally, I never gave any credence to the rumour so industrkmsly circulated at -one time. My experience of James "Wilson the youngei has convinced me that the inner turn and current of his racing thought is never revealed to mortal man. So long as he is satisfied with the article he has got, anybody else can possess what they» please; the better it is, and the more its capabilities are noised' abroad, the more satisfaction it will prove to him to encounter it. This was so in his football days, close on a score years ago, when as captain of the all-conquering Geelong Twenty, he posed as the finest, all-round exponent of the grand winter pastime that had ever put toe to leather in the Australian style of play; and he hasn't altered one iota since, you can take it from me. For, as "' old " Casaius remarked to Brutus with respect to Lucius Pella — " I know the man." j

Meritorious as Diffidence's performance was in the Sydney Cup, of course the fact of her having only lib more than the Australian minimum of 6.7 on her back tended to discount it somewhat. However, last , Thursday, in the City Handicap, she again proved successful, starting first favourite against 14 others, and winning " cleverly " (with 8.0 up) from Alemene 7.8, and'Bellwood 6.8, the time for the mile and a-half being a. good deal above the average — to wit, 2min 38|sec. On Saturday Bhe (at leas"t to my mind) still further emphasised my remark in the "Witness of March 30, as to her "being a " perfect lady " when well, by finishing close behind Alemene (who was fourth, with 7.12), albeit upraised 10lb for her City Handicap victory. " Terlinga," the sporting editor of the Australasian, ■who was on the spot witnessing the event, telegraphed thus to the Argus thertanent : — " X Kay was the first backed for the Place Handicap, but eventually Alemene was an equal favourite, while Diffidence and half a dozen others carried stable money. The race was mn at a great pace all the way. Eventually April Fool, who came out rather early, was just caught and beaten by Fairy Prince in 2mm 35sec, which is, I think, the record for a mile and a-half in Ausiitilia. Diffidence, wBo was very sore, ran last Borne distance, but made up liei ground afterwards, and could have been where X Ray was (third). The seat of the trouble with Diffidence is in the knee, and it is ]ust possible that she will not bo well enough to go to Adelaide." If "Terlinga" is right in his deduction that Diffidence, sore and all as she was, could actually have finished in advance of Alemeue (who met her on 61b better terms than in the City Handicap— mark you!) and X Rny (the latter a particularly slippery, albeit aged, son of Sunlight and "Wildfiower, under heavy burdens, let alone with the comparative luxury of 7.12 in the person of Mat Harris) at the termination of a 2.35 gallop, with 8.10 up, after being absolutely last for some distance, she must be not only a " perfect lady" but a perfect wonder. Considering that she was carrying (with 2lb sexual allowance) no less than 81b over w.f.a., it certainly looks as if "Terliug'a" had given the nmltura in parvo just a wee bit too much benefit of a dovibt. Be this as it may, the really splendid achievements of -the first of Etra "Weenie's progeny make me still firmer in the faith that the half-brother to Diffidence (a brown or black colt by Bill of Portland, yclept Merriwee) is all my fancy pictured him when first I had the pleasure of casting my optics over him; and although, I grant, his two-year-old peregrinations up to the present (unlike those of Diffidence, who showed us a 1.2 gait for fivo furlongs by New Year's Day) have not foaeshadowed' anything out of the ordinary, I do not despair of his yet proving to demonstration that — like Solomon Gills's old Madeira in its time — age has developed excellence.

Mr W. 1?. "Wilson hfi3 been singularly (or peil-.apa-" piurally" would be even more Homo-rea-hke in "touching the spot"; unfortunate i". his attempts to capture the A.J.C. St. Leger with odds-on favourites. The Sailoi Prince took Carnage's number clown in 1894, after odds of 5 to 2 being laid on thf three-quarter brother to Carbine. A*hd now the phenomenal Bobadil lias to be added to the extremely lengthy list of marvellously great racehorses produced at the St. Albans breeding establishment, only to fade away before attaining the zenith of racing fame. There were no "' premonitory symptoms " in .Carnage's St. Legcr case, though — as thpre were in Bobadil's. The unfavourable reports that reached Melbourne from Ihe Randwick training track two or three days before the St. Leger came, on for decision, prepared us to a certain extent for Bobadil's downfall, albeit we were not prepared io find Johtinsen competent to euchre Lee-Met-ford with Leger weights up. That he was able to do so, and that the " liver-disturbed ' Bobaclil had still sufficient vitality left in him to finish a dead-heat with the CarbineFelicitaa colt, are matters which will doubtless cause readers of the Witness to ruminate as to whether Lee-Metford 'can be mu-:h of a remove above mediocrity, aftc-r all. One time I considered he wa^s.

■ Over all, £ 13,055 was paid away to prize winners by the A.J.C. during their late Autumn meeting, Mr Herbert Power receiving the biggest cheque — £2708. Mr S. Fieldet catne second with one for £1163, whilst the other fourfigure stakes winner was Mi G-. Gilbert, with £1231; then following in order — Hon. W. A. Long £873, Mr W. R. Hall £653, Mr W. Kelso £653, Mr W. Noake £005, Mr Frank Austin £573, Mr 11. C. White £500.

Oiit of the 24 races contested six wer^ won by descendants of Musket. Norclenfeldt and Carbine each sired a winner, whilst on their dams' side, both Parthian and Diffidence, who carried off a couple of good races each, are descended from tho she ot Carbine. Thanks to the three victories secured by Merloolas, the Cadogan horse St. Swithin carries off the honours as being the most successful sire during the meeting.

Amongst the riders, Merloolas'3 jockey, w. H. Smith, piloted four winners ; "' Paddy " Guinane and Harry Underwood three each, (but for an unfortunate stumble on the part of The Echo on Saturday Underwood would have ridden the winners of the, whole four jumping events), and C. Parker, F. Fieldei, and V Turner two each

Before leaving Sydney for -Melbourne yesterday Mr E.. M'Kenna (who trained Chicago, winner of the Caulfield Cup of 1888, besides many others for Mr Matt. O'Shanassy_, but has of late years developed into an Indian trader) offered lOOOgs for Merloolas, but Mi G. Gilbert, the owner of the aged unsexed son of St. Swithin, declined to deal undei 1500gs. At a sale of thoroughbred stock at Nswmaiket saleyards, llandwick, on Monday, Mark Thompson (acting for Ike Earnshaw, who in turn was representing a client in India) purchased the five-year-old Gozo-Florrie gelding North British for 450gs.

It has been notified that the committee of tho Victoria Amateur Turf Club intend framing their programme for which entries will bo received on the first Monday in June on nearly similar lines to that of las^ycar, the only material alteration being in regard to tho Debutant Stakes to be run next October The stake itself will still remain at 1200sovs, but tho total subscription has been raised from 20sovs to 25sovs, albeit the first payment (two months after nomination) has been lowered from 2sovs to lsov. The Caulfield Cup remains unchanged (a 250050 v stake, of which 2000.50V8 will go to tho first horse) ; co does the Toorak HtuadicaD (worth GOOsov^ii

- Walter S. Hickenbothani will have an Interesting string wintering at his snug. quarters in Ascot .Vale, seeing that the three yearling colts-a-by Grand Flaneur — Witchery, Gigue— Pink Pearl, and Far Niente — Saponite respectively—recently purchased at the Randwick sales, have already taken up their residence there. In addition to these, it is mora than probable that the yearling colt "by Antteus from Antias (Henchman — Cerito, by; Yattendon— Quickstep), withdrawn -from the recent sales, and presented by Mr H. C. White to Mr C. M. Lloyd, will likewise be placed under Hickenbothain's fostering care. By the way, the Havilah stud master (the Mr H. C. White before-mentioned) purposes paying an extended visit to England and Europe, and, in view thereof, has leased his promising four-year-old Clarion (by Carbine — Clare) to Mr W. Forrester. The latter evidently intends to make an eAtremely bold bid towards establishing a " record of records " by carrying off the Melbourne Cup three years in succession. A little bird^has whispered me that the New South Wales veteran stands an extremely good show of doing so — and with a comparatively unknown quantity, too; albeit — in view of a possibility of "'spoiling the handicao " — I must keep " mum " thereanent until after the weights have been announced. Doubtless with a view of seeing whether they grew more like their dad (Malua) every day, both Wait-a-Bit and Marusa have, been put over the small sticks. Dsune Rumour avers that Wait-a-Bit came through the ordeal pretty fairly, -but Marusa landed on his shoulder, T. Curtin, who was riding him, escaping with nothing worse than a shaking. The steamer Wollowr-a, which left Fremantle for Adelaide last Saturday, took away with her Mr Cl N. Kidman's three horses — Blackwood, Agitation, and Snapshot— to fill their engagements in South Australia. J. M'Gowan was in charge of them. Blackwood is said to have developed really first-class form in the land of the West, and, personally, I have had ocular demonstration of the fact that Snapshot (full brother to the erstwhile Victorian ateeplechasing celebrity Boulpvarcl) is "no smouch'" when " Barkis is willin'."

Great expectations were formed of Mr Frank Fielder's two-year-old Lowland Chief (Antasus — Scgado, by Vespasian — Legacy) when he was brought down to Victoria last spring ; but although he has since placed a couple of good race.!' io his credit — the Nursery Stakes at Randwick in November, and the December Stakes the month following— he Has not quite endorsed the high opinions originally entertained by his astute owner as to his capabilities. He has now changed hands, and, being located at Caulfield under the supervision of Mr J. Leek, will doubtless some day well repay the keeping in remembrance.

"BLUE RIBBON" CANDIDATES.

One morning during the autumn preparation, on the Flemington training track, I was indulging in a " pitch " with Alec. Taylor and a well-known Queenscliff trainer and owner, when, the conversation turning on likely V.R.C. Derby competitors, the sea-sider remarked: — "So far as the season has gone yet we have not seen a two-year-old I would care aboiit giving ten bob for, with an idea of winning the Derby." " Then you cannot havo a -ver-y exalted opinion of either Revenw, Scorn, or Tremarden," I rejoined, glancing " askew " at old Alec, as I mentioned the latin i name. "Not worth ten bob, any of the tbi<\i of them, so far as any chance of winning ti: 1 Derby," was the didactic (by the wny, I! 1 '- Queenscliff trainer is nothing if not didactic) reply;- "though I grant you," he continued, prior tc walking away to superintend something choice he had in store for our fellowfeclerationi3ts over the border, " Revenue, Scorn, and Tremarden aro doubtless abou*; the bsst that we have seen; but neither oj them is -worth ten bob in comparison with previous ■two-year-olds." Since then Revivr-r Parthian, and Chesney have stood revealed; but up to the present I have not met my didactic friend to inquire his views as to their worth in the Derby connection. As soon as I do I shall let you-know. Meanwhile,- you may just make a marginal note on your cuff with respect to the following paragraph which appears in this morning's Argus: — "Speculation has already set in in Sydney on the V.R.C. Derby and Melbourne Cup. In doubles, the two Chesneys were backed to win £10,000, tho two Parthians a similar amount, and the two Revivers to win £5000." * Catch 'em alive, Oh!"